[Zambia] Population of the Poor is Growing Everyday - Sakala

from All Africa

Ireen Mukabo
Lusaka

CHIEF justice Ernest Sakala has said the population of the poor is growing every day.

During the induction dinner for Rotary Club incoming president Anthony Sambo, justice Sakala said the number of poor people was on the rise and that they were the majority in the country.

"One thing I can assure you or perhaps warn you is that the population of the needy is growing every day and these in fact constitute the majority of our population in the nation," he said. Justice Sakala said Lusaka city had grown into a Metropolis forcing people to migrate from rural areas in search of better life.

"This influx has led the city of Lusaka to fail to cater for the additional unplanned for population," he said. Justice Sakala observed that the proliferation of unplanned residential areas had led to shanty compounds, which had not been developed due to insufficient resources.

"Because of limited resources, the city council cannot upgrade these shanty compounds nor effectively manage them," Justice Sakala said. "This means that the utilities such as clean water, electricity, street lights, sanitation, roads and health centres are inadequate if not lacking."

Justice Sakala said the absence of such utilities in communities had resulted in many people living in abject poverty. He urged the Rotary Club to supplement government's effort in alleviating poverty in the country in accordance with this year's theme 'Lead the Way'.

"This, I believe is where you, as the Rotarians, you should come in to fill the void and help the needy and the poor," he said. " As Rotarians you are better placed to sensitise and seek donor support. I urge you to mobilize funds for projects and programmes targeted for the disfranchised communities in our localities." Justice Sakala further said the advent of HIV/AIDS had also worsened poverty levels in the country.

"The entire society is affected with the disease and as you are aware orphans are everywhere. You must take up the challenge to give due attention and commitment to the issue of HIV/AIDS," Justice Sakala said.

And Sambo said the club would this year concentrate on the provision of clean water, health services, alleviation of hunger as well as literacy management in the country. "This is our mandate from the RI president and we shall strive to achieve some of these goals and expectations during this Rotary year and beyond," Sambo said.

He said more projects on malaria control had been initiated in order to find a lasting solution to the killer disease. Sambo said the club would also continue placing emphasis on projects such as support to University Teaching Hospital - vulnerable patients and burns unit, Kasama and Kasisi Orphanage and Kasempa Lepers and HIV/AIDS orphans project.